Marrying Wives and Attaining Immortality in a Chaotic World

Chapter 184: Arm

As the Green Bamboo Snake Demon lunged at him once again, Xu Lian suddenly had an idea. He extended his hand and activated the Great Desolate Dragon Seizing Technique.

In an instant, the Green Bamboo Snake Demon was immobilized, as if its vital point had been seized.

Xu Lian fell into deep thought.

He had already formed a rough hypothesis about the missing contents of the animal skin scroll.

In the ancient era of the Great Desolate, humans and demons were sworn enemies, as irreconcilable as fire and water.

Among the humans, there was an incomparable male genius from a snake-catching family who met a uniquely talented female Green Bamboo Snake Demon.

After a fierce battle, they developed mutual respect and eventually fell in love.

Of course, such a relationship was met with outrage from the humans and scorn from the demons.

As a result, the incomparable male genius of the Snake Catching Family and the uniquely talented female Green Bamboo Snake Demon eloped and fled to a remote area where they lived in seclusion.

During their seclusion, they encountered some passing refugees and kindly took them in.

As time passed, the number of humans grew and they prospered, eventually forming a city.

To express their gratitude to the human-demon couple, the refugees named the city Human-Demon City.

Later, the couple had descendants, but for some unknown reason, their relationship soured, leading to a deadly conflict.

It was unlikely that they both perished; more likely, the incomparable male genius of the Snake Catching Family emerged victorious, though severely injured. He captured the female Green Bamboo Snake Demon, but out of lingering affection, he could not bring himself to kill her. Instead, he sealed her in a well.

Knowing that his time was short due to his injuries, the male genius had a stone tomb built for himself. After his death, he was buried there, leaving behind two inheritance marks.

One of the golden lights was likely a bloodline inheritance mark, intended for his descendants with the Green Bamboo Snake Demon to awaken their bloodline.

The other black light was a secret technique inheritance mark, which turned out to be the Great Desolate Dragon Grasping Technique, probably the ultimate secret technique of the Snake Catching Family.

“Why were the golden and black lights separated? The golden light was given to the descendant, Lin Bufeng, while the black light was given to someone else?” Xu Lian pondered.

Perhaps the male genius feared that upon awakening their bloodline, his descendants might wreak havoc upon the world. Thus, he gave the Great Desolate Dragon Seizing Technique to someone else as a counterbalance.

“Why was it given to me?” Xu Lian thought that it might be related to the old well. He had come in contact with the well and had been contaminated by the sealing aura, so the black light chose him.

“Wang Cuiyun once mentioned that Green Bamboo Town has very few bamboo trees. Why is it called Green Bamboo Town? Now I understand. It’s probably named after the sealed Green Bamboo Snake Demon. Over the generations, the name might have been changed to only Green Bamboo Town.”

With this in mind, Xu Lian felt that he had a clearer understanding of this ancient secret.

However, there was still one lingering doubt!

Why was there another demon sealed in the ancient well besides the Green Bamboo Snake Demon?

He considered two possibilities.

The first was that the male genius still harbored feelings for the Green Bamboo Snake Demon and feared that she would be too lonely in the well. Thus, he sealed a mindless demon inside, hoping that over time it would develop intelligence and keep her company. Later, the Green Bamboo Snake Demon broke through to the Return to the Void realm, escaped, and left the current demon in the well.

The second possibility was that the Green Bamboo Snake Demon was still trapped in the well and had never left! There was no other demon; it was all a figment of her imagination. Having been trapped for so long, she had gone mad, becoming a Crazy Demon. If this were the case, then she was truly beyond help.

At this thought, Xu Lian shuddered. He had conversed with the Crazy Demon in the well multiple times, and he had almost been driven mad himself.

Lin Bufeng’s mother and another middle-aged woman were huddled in the corner, trembling with fear as they watched the Green Bamboo Snake Demon.

Xu Lian did not know what to do with Lin Bufeng. Leaving him here was not an option, as it seemed that after transforming into the Green Bamboo Snake Demon, his rationality was affected, and he no longer recognized anyone.

Lin Bufeng’s mother tearfully pleaded, “Manager Xu, please, I beg you, find a way to expel the snake demon that is possessing my son.”

This wasn’t possession; it was a bloodline awakening… Xu Lian opened his mouth, but he didn’t know how to explain.

For an ordinary woman like her from Green Bamboo Town, it would be impossible to understand why her son had the bloodline of a snake demon.

No one would believe that the child of a snake catching family was actually a snake demon.

“This is retribution. I can’t stay here. I need to leave and find another family to live with,” the other middle-aged woman trembled as she got up and hurriedly packed her belongings.

“This family has been catching snakes for generations. They angered the snake demons, and now the demons want revenge.”

She stuffed some clothes and silver into a bundle, rolled up a blanket, and carried a sack of grain as she rushed out the door to seek refuge with another family.

Only Lin Bufeng’s helpless mother remained, constantly kowtowing to Xu Lian. “Manager Xu, I beg you, save my son.”

“Don’t do this. I will definitely find a way,” Xu Lian said, using one hand to maintain the Great Desolate Dragon Seizing Technique, keeping the Green Bamboo Snake Demon immobilized, while using the other hand to help Lin Bufeng’s mother to her feet.

“This is what we’re going to do. I’ll take him away for now. After I heal him, I’ll bring him back. This way, he won’t harm you.”

Lin Bufeng’s mother nodded with tears. “All right, Manager Xu, I trust you.”

When Xu Lian had come to purchase python tendons, she had casually mentioned that she wanted her son to work in the mine. Xu Lian had then promoted her son to the position of overseer. She really trusted him.

Of course, in the current situation, she had no other choice but to trust Xu Lian.

Xu Lian had her fetch some clothes, which he tore into strips to bind the immobilized Green Bamboo Snake Demon.

Then Xu Lian carried the Green Bamboo Snake Demon outside, put it on a horse, and rode away.

Arriving at his residence on New Street, Xu Lian opened the door and brought the Green Bamboo Snake Demon inside, setting it down.

“Hiss!” Once free, the Green Bamboo Snake Demon lunged at Xu Lian again.

Xu Lian sighed and waved his hand to release a burst of energy, pushing the demon back.

“Lin Bufeng, wake up!” Xu Lian shouted, hoping to awaken Lin Bufeng’s consciousness.

However, the Green Bamboo Snake Demon showed no reaction and lunged at him again.

And so, Xu Lian repeatedly pushed the Green Bamboo Snake Demon away, only for it to keep lunging at him, seemingly tireless. This race was truly vicious…

Xu Lian had no choice but to take out the Purple Jade Token and contact the White Fox Town Guard Commander. “Commander, I have a question.”

The crisp voice of the White Fox came through the token. “Speak.”

Xu Lian said, “If an ordinary person has the bloodline of a snake demon and, upon awakening, loses control of their killing instincts and constantly tries to attack me, how should I subdue them?”

The White Fox replied indifferently, “Kill them.”

“…” Xu Lian was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.

He quickly added, “But what if that person is my friend? I can’t kill them.”

The White Fox said, “You can use the Reverse Transformation Technique to revert them back to human form, restoring their consciousness.”

“But I don’t know the Reverse Transformation Technique,” Xu Lian said matter-of-factly, not feeling the slightest bit embarrassed. After all, the White Fox already knew that he was a “cultivation novice” with limited knowledge.

The Purple Jade Token fell silent for a moment before the White Fox spoke again. “Are you alone right now? Is there anyone else around?”

Xu Lian wasn’t sure why she asked this question. “No, it’s just me and my friend.”

The White Fox said, “Then it’s simple. You can use the Heavenly Serpent Grass.”

Xu Lian’s eyes lit up. He understood immediately. The Heavenly Serpent Grass carried the aura of the Heavenly Serpent, which had a powerful deterrent effect on snake demons!

After ending the communication, Xu Lian quickly retrieved the Heavenly Serpent Grass stored in a crystal orb and held it in his hand.

The Green Bamboo Snake Demon that was about to pounce again was instantly terrified. It instinctively fell to the ground trembling and did not dare to come closer.

Xu Lian put down the Heavenly Serpent Grass, but the Green Bamboo Snake Demon lunged again…

“…” Xu Lian had no choice but to remove the Heavenly Serpent Grass again. This wasn’t a permanent solution. He couldn’t hold the grass indefinitely.

Feeling helpless, Xu Lian brought over a chair and sat down, staring at the Green Bamboo Snake Demon in a stalemate.

Time passed…

After about half an hour, the Green Bamboo Snake Demon finally couldn’t maintain its transformed state and reverted to its human form, Lin Bufeng, collapsing to the ground, utterly exhausted.

Seeing his parched lips, Xu Lian went to the kitchen and fetched a bowl of water, placing it in front of him.

Although the house hadn’t been lived in for a while, the Pei family had arranged for someone to clean it regularly. The water was fresh and safe to drink.

This was why Xu Lian treated Green Bamboo Town as his backyard – he could return at any time and live here comfortably.

Lin Bufeng drank the water and finally regained some strength. Realizing that he was naked, his face turned red as he scrambled to put on the clothes scattered around.

Knowing that Lin Bufeng was shy, Xu Lian didn’t tease him. “Do you remember what just happened?”

Lin Bufeng nodded bitterly. “I was fully conscious, but I couldn’t control the urge to bite.”

Xu Lian thought for a moment. “Then you’ll need to gradually learn to control it. I can help you train until you can control yourself.”

Lin Bufeng’s eyes reddened as he looked at Xu Lian with gratitude. “Thank you, Manager Xu. If it weren’t for you, I would have caused a disaster.”

“It’s nothing. You were under my command before, so of course I’ll help you,” Xu Lian smiled, although inwardly he was a bit excited. He hadn’t expected that among his former subordinates, there would be a genius with the Heavenly Serpent Bloodline. 

In the future, Lin Bufeng could become his right-hand man. If only there were a few more like him, but that was unlikely. Pu Ling, Yang Ye, and Zhang Yuan were just ordinary people.

Lin Bufeng, still dazed, recounted how he had been struck by the golden light a few days ago. “It was like a dream. I saw two ancestors-one was the incomparable genius of the Snake Catching Family, and the other was the uniquely talented Green Bamboo Snake Demon. Before, I was just drifting through life. Only today did I realize what I really am.”

Xu Lian said, “This is what cultivators call a bloodline awakening. Your dream wasn’t wrong. Your ancestors were indeed the genius of the Snake Catching Family and the Green Bamboo Snake Demon.”

Then, Xu Lian briefly explained the situation with the stone tomb in Pingyang County. After all, Lin Bufeng would eventually find out, so it was better to be upfront. “I received the black light inheritance mark, while you received the golden light.”

Lin Bufeng’s expression became strange. “Does this mean that Manager Xu is also a descendant of the Snake Catching Family and the Green Bamboo Snake Demon?”

Xu Lian shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s probably just a coincidence.”

Lin Bufeng suddenly pointed at the Heavenly Serpent Grass in Xu Lian’s hand. “Why do I feel that this thing carries the aura of my ancestor?”

“This is the Heavenly Serpent Grass. It naturally carries the aura of the Heavenly Serpent, which is your ancestor,” Xu Lian explained.

Xu Lian thought for a moment and decided to tell Lin Bufeng about the seal in the old well. After all, this was something left behind by his ancestors, and it was better for him to know about it.

Lin Bufeng was shocked. “My ancestor is still trapped there?”

Xu Lian’s expression became serious. “Not necessarily. It could be another demon. Be careful, the demon in the well is not in its right mind.”

The two of them talked for a long time.

In terms of cultivation, Lin Bufeng was even more of a novice than Xu Lian. He eagerly sought Xu Lian’s guidance.

Unfortunately, Xu Lian didn’t know much himself… but he did his best to explain what he could.

This made Xu Lian reflect on his relationship with the White Fox. Now, he and Lin Bufeng were in a similar dynamic.

Lin Bufeng was afraid to return home, fearing that he might transform again and lose control, harming his family.

Xu Lian, who was also concerned, decided to keep Lin Bufeng by his side for now.